Latest Technologies Make Building Surround Sound Products A Snap
The process of installing multi-channel audio speakers in home theater products is quite tedious and vendors have invented new products and technologies such as wireless surround sound speakers or surround sound wireless headphones recently to help simplify the setup. I will look at a number of of the newest technologies which were developed to make setting up home theater systems a breeze. I will illustrate what to look out for when making your buying decision.
As in the past setting up a TV has been pretty straightforward, the appearance of multi-channel audio has made installing home theater systems much more difficult by requiring a number of external speakers to create surround sound. In case of 5.1 surround, 6 speakers are used: center, left and right front, left and right rear and a subwoofer. Newer 7.1 systems need a total amount of 8 speakers by adding 2 additional side speakers.
As a result installing a home theater has turn out to be pretty complex and long speaker cable runs are normally undesirable for aesthetic reasons. Some technologies have emerged to simplify this procedure.
The first option is creating so-called virtual speakers by applying signal-processing to the sound and introducing phase shifts and special cues to those audio components that would usually be sent by the remote speakers. As the signal processing is based on how the human hearing detects the origin of sound, the audio components which underwent signal processing can be mixed with the front speaker components and sent by the front speakers. The signal processing has an effect that will deceive the listener into presuming that the sound is originating from a different location.
Virtual surround eliminates the remote speakers and simplifies the installation and also eliminates long speaker cord runs. On the other hand, it also has a downside. The shape of each human's ear is somewhat different. As a result everybody processes sound differently. The signal processing of these virtual surround systems is based on a standard model which was measured with a standard ear. However, virtual surround will not function equally well for every person.
Wireless surround sound devices are an additional approach for simplifying home speaker setups and normally come with a transmitter module that connects to the source and in addition wireless amplifiers that will connect to the remote speakers. The transmitter will normally come with amplified speaker inputs as well as line-level inputs and come with a volume control to adjust it to the source audio level.
A number of wireless speaker kits are designed to connect 2 speakers per wireless amplifier. A superior option would have a wireless amplifier for every remote loudspeaker to eliminate the cable runs between each of the 2 remote loudspeakers. The most basic wireless kits utilize FM broadcast. FM broadcast is prone to noise and sound degradation. More sophisticated systems make use of digital audio transmission to completely maintain the original audio. In multi-channel audio devices, it is vital to pick a wireless solution with a latency of merely a few milliseconds. This will ensure that the sound of all loudspeakers is in perfect sync. If the latency is higher than 10 ms then there will be an echo effect which will deteriorate the surround sound. Wireless kits often utilize the 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz frequency band. A number of products also utilize the 5.8 GHz band. These products have less competition from other wireless products than devices using the crowded 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz bands.
Another option are side-reflecting speakers. These systems are also called sound bars. The sound that would ordinarily be broadcast by the remote speakers is instead broadcast by speakers at the front. These front speakers broadcast the sound at an angle. Then the audio is reflected by the side and rear walls and appears to be coming from besides or behind the viewer. The result heavily is dependent upon the interior, in particular the shape of the room and the decoration. It will work well for square rooms with no obstacles and sound reflecting walls. Then again, realistic scenarios often will vary from this ideal and diminish the result of this solution.
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3 Acoustic Audio R191 200 Watt 5.25 Round In-Wall/Ceiling Speakers $49.99 These Acoustic Audio R191 in-wall speakers are incredibly versatile speakers and are perfect for any of your audio needs. Try incorporating them into a sound system in your sunroom, patio or basement to create an entertainment space worthy of get-togethers and celebrations. Or you can install them into walls or ceilings throughout a home or office to use as a multi-room audio application. They also make great additions to home theater systems and bring a cinema-like surround sound quality to your movie-viewing experience. They’re weather-resistant, so would be ideal for outdoor applications as well. Each 2-way, round speaker can handle 200 watts of power (100W RMS), and features a 5.25 woofer with polypropylene cone and 12mm soft dome tweeter. Their paintable, white grills can be hidden in a wall or ceiling because they mount flush for nearly invisible installation. Complete with a Lifetime Warranty and our exclusive 30 day money back guarantee. |
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3′ GoldX PlusSeries GXAV-LR-03P 2-Channel (M) to (M) Composite Analog Audio Cable w/Premium 24K Gold $16.45 The GoldX PlusSeries GXAV-LR-03P is a 3-foot composite analog audio cable designed for use in your home theater or stereo systems.amp; Featuring premium 24K gold-plated connectors dual shielding and a high-quality oxygen-free copper center conductor you can rely on high performance sound for your music and movies. Left amp;amp; right channel analog audio cable with premium connectorBuilt with the most sophisticated technology and innovative features GoldX? PlusSeries? Analog Audio Cable by JDI enhances the performance of all your electronic devices. These high-performance cables provide a superior connection to enable you to obtain a better sound quality from todayapos;s sophisticated electronic equipment. Features 24k Gold Plated Studio Grade Premium Connectors Corrosion-Resistant Connectors Designed For Maximum Conductivity and Low Signal Loss Designed For Two Channel Analog Audio Signals Over Coaxial Wire Dual Shielding Reduces Interference Noise and Distortion Improved Signal Transfer With High Grade Oxygen-Free Copper Wire Industry Standard Color Coded For Easy Installation Connector and Example Connections Type Device Type Device RCAMaleRed amp;amp; White Standard Televisionlt;/T |
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304 Series Amp Stand – Shelves: Black, Poles/Caps: Black Poles/Black Caps $99.99 Available in 3 Finishes! – VI1014: Durable metal construction is the hallmark of these designs. These stands have the user in mind. With their wire management systems, making installation neat and easy, as well as their sophisticated look, VTI stands complement the elegance of any home. Designed with the future in mind, these stands are constructed wider and taller to accommodate the changing world of audio/visual technology. Features: -Accommodates extra large audio amplifier -No assembly required -3 leg style, like BL304 audio rack (VI1005) -Cap and adjustable spike color: available in 24K Gold-polished Chrome, Black Chrome or Silver Chrome -See additional images below for cap and spike colors -Shelf color: available in Black, Oak, Natural or Cherry -Overall dimensions: 4 H x 23 1/4 W x 20 D About VTI Manufacturing, Inc. VTI Manufacturing, Inc. specializes in manufacturing entertainment and presentation furniture for home and office use. The residential home entertainment line includes TV stands, audio/video racks, and speaker stands for home theater use. All VTI racks are constructed with durable metal frames along with tempered glass or wood shelves. The metal/wood racks come in 10 different color combinations at the same low prices while the metal/glass racks also come in the most popular colors. VTI racks offer deeper and taller shelving space to accommodate most of the up-to-date electronic equipment. Both the stackable and fixed structure racks beautifully display your equipment and enhance the style of your home s d cor. |
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304 Series Amp Stand – Shelves: Black, Poles/Caps: Black Poles/Gold Caps $99.99 Available in 3 Finishes! – VI1014: Durable metal construction is the hallmark of these designs. These stands have the user in mind. With their wire management systems, making installation neat and easy, as well as their sophisticated look, VTI stands complement the elegance of any home. Designed with the future in mind, these stands are constructed wider and taller to accommodate the changing world of audio/visual technology. Features: -Accommodates extra large audio amplifier -No assembly required -3 leg style, like BL304 audio rack (VI1005) -Cap and adjustable spike color: available in 24K Gold-polished Chrome, Black Chrome or Silver Chrome -See additional images below for cap and spike colors -Shelf color: available in Black, Oak, Natural or Cherry -Overall dimensions: 4 H x 23 1/4 W x 20 D About VTI Manufacturing, Inc. VTI Manufacturing, Inc. specializes in manufacturing entertainment and presentation furniture for home and office use. The residential home entertainment line includes TV stands, audio/video racks, and speaker stands for home theater use. All VTI racks are constructed with durable metal frames along with tempered glass or wood shelves. The metal/wood racks come in 10 different color combinations at the same low prices while the metal/glass racks also come in the most popular colors. VTI racks offer deeper and taller shelving space to accommodate most of the up-to-date electronic equipment. Both the stackable and fixed structure racks beautifully display your equipment and enhance the style of your home s d cor. |